New foundation works to raise asthma awareness

Michelle Jones whose brother Jeffery Glasper passed away from an asthma attack, looks through some family albums of Jeffery on Wednesday afternoon. Michelle and her family started a support group in honor of her brother Jeffery, to help other families cope with asthma.

Photo by John Sudbrink / The Daily News

By Katie Hansen - kathryn.hansen@jdnews.com

Published: Sunday, June 1, 2014 at 01:31 PM.

When Jeffery Glasper died in September 2012, his family wanted to do whatever they could to help other families avoid the same situation.

Glasper, a Jacksonville native, died at age 24 from an asthma attack. Glasper was awaiting the birth of his second son at the time whom he never got the chance to meet; he was born about a week and a half after Glasper’s death. Now both of his sons, ages 6 and 1, struggle with asthma.

The family, along with some close friends, formed Our Many Shades of Gray: The Jeffery M. Glasper Asthma Support Foundation.

“Collectively as a family unit it is very important for us to be involved ... We want to take our tragedy to help someone else,” said Michelle Jones, Glasper’s sister and the CEO of the foundation.

The foundation, which according to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State’s website was incorporated in February, is also working to become a group under the auspices of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, which advocates for allergy and asthma sufferers across the country and also educates on the subjects.

Similarly, the local foundation exists to educate and raise awareness about asthma and provide aid through a peer support group.

The group will begin meeting in July on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon at the Northwoods Recreation Center. This time will incorporate experts from the area who will discuss different topics on asthma, such as prevention techniques and how to deal with asthma suffering. The first meeting is scheduled for July 12, and it will be an asthma education meeting, according to Jones.

When Jeffery Glasper died in September 2012, his family wanted to do whatever they could to help other families avoid the same situation.

Glasper, a Jacksonville native, died at age 24 from an asthma attack. Glasper was awaiting the birth of his second son at the time whom he never got the chance to meet; he was born about a week and a half after Glasper’s death. Now both of his sons, ages 6 and 1, struggle with asthma.

The family, along with some close friends, formed Our Many Shades of Gray: The Jeffery M. Glasper Asthma Support Foundation.

“Collectively as a family unit it is very important for us to be involved ... We want to take our tragedy to help someone else,” said Michelle Jones, Glasper’s sister and the CEO of the foundation.

The foundation, which according to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State’s website was incorporated in February, is also working to become a group under the auspices of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, which advocates for allergy and asthma sufferers across the country and also educates on the subjects.

Similarly, the local foundation exists to educate and raise awareness about asthma and provide aid through a peer support group.

The group will begin meeting in July on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon at the Northwoods Recreation Center. This time will incorporate experts from the area who will discuss different topics on asthma, such as prevention techniques and how to deal with asthma suffering. The first meeting is scheduled for July 12, and it will be an asthma education meeting, according to Jones.

Jamal Pointe, Glasper’s brother and the chairman of the foundation’s board, said personally, he wants to educate people on what to do in case of an extreme asthma attack.

“If I can just keep reaching families on what not to do, and that is if you have a loved one having a full-blown asthma attack, don’t jump in the car and try to take them to the hospital. Call 9-1-1,” Pointe said.

Not only are EMTs set up to get people to the hospital quickly, Pointe said they have the training and the equipment designed to help people breathe.

But this lesson didn’t come without a price.

“We already know from personal experience, trying to get to the car and drive is not going to work,” Pointe said. “That’s what happened to Jeff. He was trying to get taken to the hospital and on the way he lost consciousness and they couldn’t bring him back.”

Pointe said he wants to educate community members so they don’t repeat what happened to his brother.

“For me personally, if we can reach families with that, to me we’re winning,” Pointe said. “We’re winning this war on asthma.”

Pointe added that many people don’t know that asthma can be caused by allergies, such as in the case of his son.

Because of that, he keeps the house as dust-free as he can.

“There are quite a few things that people can do at home to lessen the triggers, and a lot of people don’t know,” Jones said, such as reducing allergens. One example of an item that exacerbates asthma, Jones said, is something a lot of parents are guilty of keeping around the house without knowing the problems they cause: stuffed animals, which hold dust and allergens.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, asthma affects an estimated 5 million kids under 18 and accounts for more than 14 million missed school days per year, or eight days for each student with asthma.

Because of that, the foundation also strives to help parents learn how to prevent asthma and decrease the number of absences their children might have in school due to it.

“We are not medical professionals, we are a support group,” she said. “We are looking to bring on medical professionals to help push this issue in the community.”

Jones said the range of topics they will discuss at the meetings will include what people can do in classrooms to decrease the chances of asthma attacks, such as disallowing perfume or scented lotions worn by teachers, and how kids can adapt to having the chronic lung disease. For example, Jones said most parents and children think a kid with asthma cannot participate in athletics. However, she said they hope to show, through experts and resources, how asthma sufferers can lead an active life.

“I know parents, families personally that feel that their child can not play sports because of asthma,” Jones said. “You can have a productive life, you can. You just have to have that knowledge and the resources and that encouragement that, ‘You can do this.’”

The foundation will not only educate individuals and families dealing with asthma, they want to serve as a support group.

Anyone can join the group, and Jones and Pointe said they want the space to welcome people to share experiences, struggles and help with each other.

“We’re looking to bring in people ... Let them lean on each other,” Jones said.

Jones said they purposely chose the recreation center so families can come and children can play at a close distance.

“A lot of families don’t come to support groups because they don’t have places for their children to go,” she said.

The foundation also donates money to the AAFA for its efforts in changing laws in relation to cleaner air, ensuring schools have the resources to serve children suffering from allergies and asthma, and other issues. AAFA works with professionals looking for a cure for asthma.

To raise money to operate and to donate to the AAFA, the foundation accepts donations. They also put on a Gray Day one Saturday in May each year, because May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness month.

“Gray is the ribbon color for Asthma,” Jones said. “Since many people of all races, ethnicity, ages are afflicted with this heightening condition, we are Our Many Shades of Gray.”

The gray day includes an asthma awareness walk each year, this year being the second annual, followed by a fun evening activity and fundraiser. After the walk this year, they hosted a gala for a fundraising event on May 17 at the Montford Point Marines Association.

On June 4, the foundation has a share night from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bojangles located at 2149 Lejeune Blvd. in Jacksonville for dining in and driving through.

“Our organization is partnering with various local businesses to raise awareness and funding for asthma,” Jones said. “On our Bojangles Share Night, diners can mention ‘Our Many Shades of Gray’ during the hours of 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Bojangles will share a portion of the proceeds with our organization ... The Jacksonville area Bojangles community promoter’s young grandson suffers severely from asthma. When she heard of our organization, she reached out to us.”

Although the Gray Day for this year has passed, they are still accepting donations and contributions for next year’s events and for support throughout the year.

Tax deductible donations can be made via PayPal at JeffGlasper.Asthma@yahoo.com or mailed directly to 1250 Western Blvd. Suite L2, Jacksonville, NC 28546

To contact the foundation email them at JeffGlasper.Asthma@yahoo.com or learn more by visiting their Facebook page at facebook.com/JeffGlasper.Asthma.